Occupational Therapist

About Southwark

Southwark is an ambitious, vibrant, culturally diverse and progressive council with a ‘can do’ attitude. As a Council, we are successful, passionate and forward-thinking. We value our people, celebrate diversity and seek to find effective and creative ways of supporting our communities. We are committed to our ‘Fairer Futures for All’ promise which ensures that our residents and businesses are central to everything we do.  We currently have several vacancies across the older persons & physical disability service we wish to fill.

The Role:

We are looking for an experienced, autonomous and motivated Occupational Therapist who wants to make a real difference to the lives of the residents of Southwark.

The Community Review Team provide a reviewing service for older people and adults with physical disabilities who are currently in receipt of care and support services. Practitioners’ in the team complete strength based assessments and work in partnership with our residents to maximise their independence and promote their wellbeing.  We are an integrated service made up of both Social Workers and Occupational therapy. The Review Occupational Therapist is expected to work autonomously and in liaison with Social Work colleagues to utilise their functional, moving and handling skills and knowledge of equipment to positively influence the care and support needs of our residents.

Essential aspects of the Occupational Therapy role include:

1. To visit residents with physical, and/or mental health needs, at their home, or permanent residence and complete Occupational Therapy assessments of function, to help overcome environmental/social barriers and provide tailored support.

2. To complete manual handing assessments of need and ensure residents, and their formal and informal carers, are supported to provide personalised care through robust OT assessments. 

3. To prescribe appropriate equipment to improve safety and maximise independence, choice and control.

4. To assess and provide minor and major adaptations to ensure residents can remain in their own homes, for as long as possible, promote health and prevent hospital admissions.  To work closely with Housing colleagues and other professionals in meeting identified needs.

5. To assess residents’ medical needs for rehousing (including Sheltered/Extra Care Housing)

6. To adopt a Strength Based approach to all of our work.  To support residents to enable access to the Community Voluntary Sector and connect residents to local assets/resources to promote their health and well-being to determine with what is important to them – employment, training, social and leisure opportunities.

7. To ensure that services are provided in accordance with current departmental policies and guidelines. To implement strategies to combat discrimination.

About You:

You will have experience of supporting adults with physical and cognitive disabilities.  You will be able to complete assessments under the Care Act 2014. You will have a knowledge of OT theory, specialist assessments and interventions and be able apply this within holistic, person-centred and strengths-based approaches to promoting service users’ independence.